The Irish standard., 1887-01-15

Is faded now and lonely
The echoes in the leaflcss glade
| Wake to the waters only
My early haunts are perished all,
My early friends departed
And Isit in my native hall
Forlorn and broken-hearted.
IL.
| When last lay beside that stream.
1 dreamt of fame and splendor,
| And bliss was mingled with my dream,
| Domestic, sweet and tender
Now would give that fame and all,
Were this soft starlight cleaning
On my old friends in their old hall.
And an infant dreaming.
The hour of appointment at length
drew nigh, and he repaired to the Ratf
indicated by his companion, which was
made remarkable by one of those table
stones, or omleachs-enormous tabu-
lar masses of rock supported on fye er
six pedestals of che same material, great
numbers Of which are to be met with III
various parts of Ireland, of Great Brit
ain. and even on the continent, and
which are supposed by some antiquar-
les to have served the purpose of altars
in the celebration OF the mystic rites OF
Odin, while the vulgar traditions of the
countrNyepresent them as the rural din
ing-tables Of the ancient gigantic colon
lists of the island.
He had not arrived many minutes be-
fore he was joined by Spellacy, who ap-
peared to labor under some perplexity
of mind as to the course which he should
pursue.
Mr. Kumba,'' he at length said, after
much hesitation, 'tto be plain with you,
if you should not choose to come into
my plan, it will put my life into your
power, and that puzzles me a little"
Kumba stared at him in some surprise.
81 am totally unable to conceive your
meaning" said he, ''buS On that head.
you may be assured that am not base
enough to avail myself OF any informa-
tion by which you may commit your
self."' ..... ......"
.'It is enough, sir,' said spellacy.
"Follow me, if you please.
They proceeded down the hillock,
over a little rocky rivulet, into q small
dark copse Of stunted elms and hazels,
through which an almost inperceptahle
pathway overgrown with brambles
prishoc- weed and underwood, conducted
them to the door of a small thatched
building, having the appearance OF
stable, and connected with g. ruined
smithy. Spellacy hastily pulled the
string of the latch, and admitted his
friend into the stable, which was occu-
pied by four stout rough coated horses
whose furniture hang against an uncast
wall of mud and stone on the opposite
side. The condition Of the animals, and
the comfortable air OF the place in which
they were accommodated. might, at
moment of lesser interest. nave excited
the surprise Of Kumba, but he was now
too completely overwhelmed even to
exercise a distinct judgment on the
very circumstance which absorbed all
his attention. A small ladder leading
through narrow opening in the boarded
ceiling to loft overhead, was next dis
closed by his companion, who now relin-
quished his hold and notioned Kumba
to ascend.
"Stayl'' cried the latter, at length,
'twhither are we going?"
:Hush! no words here ut Taste, talk
smaller than that. if you value our lives
Up, and ask no auestions!''
'Husb! up I say againP' Kumba
yielded, and they ascerded.
"Now, Mr.. Robert!'' said speliacy, in
q low tone, ''only act like a man for one
half hour, and you're made. Do YOU
know where you are9'
Kun1ba stared wildly around him.
They stood in space about four feet
square, the rest of the loft being to all
appearance blocked up with hay and
straw, except on one side near the wall,
where fssure in the mass had been
formed, apparently by the gradual use
made Of the article for consumption in
the lower apartment. To this narrow
opening, spellacy beckoned his friend,
and seizing his hand, as he hung back
in wondering hesitation, drew him into
a long passage. dark, and becoming
somewhat wider as they advanced. The
first intimation the young farmer re-
ceived of the nature of the place to
which he was about to be introduced,
was conveyed in sound resembling the
clink of small hammers family heard,
and an occasional murmer Of human
voices, alternated by the creaking of
! some great machine, the working of
which caused degree of tre1nulous in